Garment workers demand wage hike

Garment workers demand wage hike

TANGERANG (JP): Hundreds of workers of garment producer PT
Bali Nirwana Garmen in Kreo subdistrict, Ciledug here
demonstrated on Monday to demand a 15 percent increase on their
wages, meal allowances, transportation fees and leave.

The demonstrators, from among about 1,500 workers employed by
the company, sat peacefully in the company's compound.

"I have been working here for 20 years but my wage remains the
same as a new worker's," Supriyati, one of the workers, said,
adding that she earned Rp 172,000 a month.

The workers also demanded that the firm pays costs of medical
treatment for the workers and their family members, she said.

The firm's marketing manager, Sham Kurnani, said that the firm
would discuss the workers' demands, but reminded them that it was
not easy to meet all the demands amid the current crisis.

"We can not guarantee to fulfill all the demands," Sham said.

He said two of the demands, namely meal allowances and
transportations fees, have been handed over to the Central
Committee of Labor Disputes (P4P) of the Ministry of Manpower to
be settled. (41/jun)